Fix it or get rid?

[tameracingdriver]

Just bought a Phase 1 172 about a month ago. 74K miles. Recent cambelt. Decent overall condition. A few tasteless chavvy mods (now removed). £1400. I do like the car.

Replaced the exhaust system with a quiet stealth system.

Replaced the 17" wheels with 16" OZ F1s.

Have got some standard springs to replace the Apex ones on it now (in two minds about this - looks versus performance?!)

Spent £600 in the process.

Took my car to a specialist today to diagnose poor starting issues and running.

Got back today, to be told that the diagnostics don't throw anything up, but the dephaser has gone. Its rattling. Its stalling. He says the timing is all over the place.

£800 to put right (all the belts, the dephaser, water pump).

It still needs new brake discs and pads and two rear tyres - another £200 - £300.

Needs the arches doing before winter. Don't know how much that will cost.

Don't know what to do. Car could be just a bit more TLC away from being a really good car, or it could be a money pit.

But I seem to suck balls at buying cars, I always buy ones that turn out to be rustbuckets or nails despite looking decent inside and out. So I could buy another and face all the issues again.

 

[GazST]

Get rid, my clio started to become a money pit so sold it for an accord and havent looked back

Have you spoken to TW Barker in newcastle? I had belts/dephaser/w pump done for £700

 

[Owen_m]

for the value of the car just sell it on quick mate, brake it?

i made the mistake of fixing a car that wasn't worth it mate. aint worth it.

Or keep the car for parts

 

[lemonnobby]

£100 saving i would say all ph1 are the same now adays

 

[CJGREEN]

£800 for a belt, dephaser and waterpump change? :headno:

 

[tameracingdriver]

Re TW & Barker - thats who told me about it.

I've read mostly good things about Barker etc, but I'm tempted to take it to Mickleton as I've heard nothing bad about them and Hutchie works there.

Part of me thinks its a shame to get rid though...

 

[GazST]

they were really good with me (i used to live in morpeth) always slotted me in around work time etc place looks like phll mitchels garage under the arches lol but they are spot on

 

[CJGREEN]

Dont get rid, Its a nice example by the looks of it.

I paid £300 for a belt and dephaser change. Waterpump surely shouldn't add so much more on?

 

[jenic]

I like them on 16s.

I'd get the work done personally, I'd take it to diamond motors though. It's cheaper and they will do a proper check over of the rest of the car for you at the same time.

 

[tameracingdriver]

How much do Diamond charge, doesn't say on the website?

I'm leaning towards fixing it. I wanted a 172 or I wouldn't have got one. If I sell this car and buy another, what guarantee do I have this wont happen again? 50/50 at best I'd say given my past track record.

 

[Danith]

Don't get rid and DON'T break it! Too many are getting broken up these days!

£800 for a cambelt, dephaser, aux belt and waterpump isn't ridiculous. I paid £700 @ BTM for a cambelt, aux, plugs, oil and dephaser on a ph1.

Tyres - well any car you're gonna buy will need tyres. It's an excuse to get some half decent ones if you're already running budgets. Do the belts and keep it for as long as poss. Well worth it.

To fund tyres if you're absolutely desperate you could flog the 16" f1's for decent ££££ and get some 15" ones.

 

[tameracingdriver]

Danith, I'm not that desperate. It is really feckin annoying though when I've just got out of debt and really need to be saving as I'm only in temp work.

But I think I've pretty much decided not to sell or break. Its pretty much a fairly rare modern classic nowadays and it would as you say be a shame not to try and preserve it.

 

[jenic]

How much do Diamond charge, doesn't say on the website?

I'm leaning towards fixing it. I wanted a 172 or I wouldn't have got one. If I sell this car and buy another, what guarantee do I have this wont happen again? 50/50 at best I'd say given my past track record.

£560 for belts and dephaser, so plus whatever a water pump is. Can't be more than £650 inc the extra labour to fit the pump.

But you'd also have Micks skills in diagnosing problems with the car, he seems pretty good at fault finding.

 

[.LiamC.]

I'd personally get it fixed. You've already said that you really like the car and it is a lovely example. Every car of this kind of age will need a bit of money thrown at it from time to time, so may as well get it done.

 

[tameracingdriver]

Well its booked in for monday at Mickleton Service station for the work. My wallet is already shuddering!!

 

[andywa]

You do right mate. As you've said, what guarantees have you got with another car. It's tidy and once those bits are done it should give you a few years trouble free.

 

[tameracingdriver]

You do right mate. As you've said, what guarantees have you got with another car. It's tidy and once those bits are done it should give you a few years trouble free.

I really, REALLY hope you're right about that! This level of expenditure isn't sustainable.

This place I'm taking it to probably isn't the cheapest, but looking on here, I've not seen a bad word about them, so I'm hoping they can make the car good again. ETA: Its Hutchies garage IIRC too.

 

[andywa]

I know what you mean mate there has to be a point where you say enough is enough. From my own experience these are pretty good cars and apart from the dreaded belts not that expensive to work with.

 

[Alex5]

Sell it straight away and get your monies back then start again